NAVYA, with project collaborators Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Ann Arbor SPARK, recently announced that it will locate a manufacturing plant in the Ann Arbor region. At the 20,000+ sq. ft. facility, in Saline, Mich., NAVYA plans to build its ARMA fully autonomous shuttle vehicles by the end of 2017.
NAVYA, created in 2014, is a French company specializing in developing innovative, smart and sustainable mobility solutions. NAVYA develops driverless, automated electric vehicles that are independent of all infrastructure. These vehicles are designed for the intelligent transport of people and goods.
In October 2015, NAVYA launched the NAVYA ARMA, a 100% autonomous, driverless and electric shuttle which can transport up to 15 people and which is now operating on different sites: private sites and public roads.
NAVYA’s breakthrough ARMA shuttle has become a global leader in first and last mile transportation solutions with a fleet of 45 vehicles deployed worldwide and more than 170,000 passengers transported to date. With the addition of its new plant in Saline the company will be able to boost production significantly to serve the growing North American market.
“NAVYA could not be more pleased to call the Ann Arbor region home to our first assembly plant in North America. As the greater Ann Arbor area continues to establish itself as a hub for autonomous vehicle development, we feel it’s the perfect location for us. Strong government and community support for mobility initiatives combined with an excellent talent pool provide the ideal environment for our expansion in North America,” said NAVYA CEO Christophe Sapet.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of more than $1 million and create 50 jobs, resulting in a $435,000 Michigan Business Development performance-based grant. The funds are approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund and administered by the MEDC.
“NAVYA’s growth in the Ann Arbor region is fueled by our region's commitment to innovation in mobility technology, and the talented people who think and work on these issues every day throughout our region,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. “We’re excited to add depth to our technical prowess in this region, and to be part of NAVYA tapping in to the manufacturing and engineering capabilities here as it moves forward in making some of the world’s first autonomous mass transit vehicles. NAVYA is a terrific contribution to our prominence in the connected and autonomous vehicle industry.”
Ann Arbor SPARK hosted NAVYA during its first visit to the region as part of a French Mobility delegation in 2015. Going forward, Ann Arbor SPARK will help NAVYA locate the employees it needs to continue its growth at its new manufacturing facility in Saline.
